Polemical Theology

We celebrate the four-hundredth episode with our founders. Jeff Waddington, Jim Cassidy, and Camden Bucey recorded the first episode of Christ the Center in January 2008, and now they gather around the virtual roundtable again to discuss the purpose of polemical theology. Polemics is often viewed as form of degenerate theologizing—something unloving and sub-Christian. Nonetheless, when done out of faith, polemics is vital to the life and health of the church. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.” (2 Corinthians 10:3–6 ESV) Responding to such a charge necessarily entails a proper polemical theology. Participants: Camden Bucey, Jeff Waddington, Jim Cassidy